Dispensing apparatus



June 2, 1942. P, LQHN 2,284,828

DISPENS ING` APPARATUS Filed June l5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "7 INVENTOR.

m foi-7.5' Off/N June 2, 1942. P, L OHN DIsPENsINGAPPARATUs 8 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June l5, 1940 INVENTOR.

TTOANEYS PETE/e A o/-l/V Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS VPeter Lohn, New York, N. Y.

Application June 15, 1940, Serial No. 340,679

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing apparatus and has particular reference to a type of dispenser such as disclosed in my PatentNo. 2,180,989, dated November 21, 1939.

In said patent, a liquid discharge chamber is provided with a valve controlled outlet through which liquidV received in' said chamber from a supply receptacle is discharged by the action oi an ejector in the form of a reciprocating plunger.

This plunger carries a Valve operating cam which I is effective, at the inception of the inward or operative movement of the ejector, to open the valve for said outlet so that the liquid in the chamber in front of the ejector can be forced through said outlet. At the completion of the discharge stroke of the plunger, it is restored to the normal position thereof, and during the initial state of this restoration said valve is held open by said cam thus permitting air to enter the chamber through said outlet until the valve is nally closed. The presence of air in the chamber mixed with the liquid therein has a tendency, Y

upon subsequent actuation of the ejector, to prevent the discharge of a full, predetermined quan tity of said liquid from the chamber.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above diculty by preventing the admission of air into the discharge chamber upon the return-stroke of the ejector to thereby establish atl least apartial vacuum in said chamberwhich willI section, showing the valve operating member carried by the ejector. Y

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a part ci a coin controlled mechanism which cooperates with the plunger ejector in holding the same in the normal position thereof and in releasing said ejector so as to permit of a discharge operation.

Figure 6 is an' elevational view, partly in section, ofY another form of dispensing mechanism the parts being shown in their normal position and at an instant that a coin is inserted in the mechanism for its release preparatory to a discharge operation.

Figure 7 isa View similar to Figure 6 showing the position of the parts at the end of the discharge stroke of the ejector.

Figure 8 is a'section on the line 8-,-8 of Figure 6, showing the outlet control valve inits operated or open position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing still another form of dispensing` mechanism,

with the parts in their normal position.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the position of the parts at the end of the discharge stroke of the ejector, and

Figure 11 is a section on the line I I -I I of Figure 9.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, the numeral I2indicates a cabinet or casing which is provided in the bottom thereof with an outlet well I3 through which a liquid or cream may be discharged into thel hand by the operation of the dispensing mechanism. Within Y said casing I2 there is mounted a supporting ceiving a variety of mechanical expressions some p of which, for-purposes of illustration, are shown In the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partly inv section, of one form of dispensing mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on the y g showing the position of the ejector and outlet valve at the end of the discharge stroke of said ejector. Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in block I4` in the lower end of which there is provided a horizontally disposed discharge chamber I5 in which the ejector I6 is mounted for reciprocation to discharge a predetermined quantity of liquid from the chamber I 5 through the outlet I1 formed in the bottom of the block I4 and communicating with said chamber. Within said outlet Il and partially encircled by the well I3 is an `outlet valve casing I8 through which the liquid passes as it is discharged from the chamber. A vertically disposed needle valve I9 is slidably mounted in the block I4 with its lower end projecting into the casing I8 to normally close the valve seat therein, and with its intermediate portion extending transversely through the chamber I5. The upper end of the needle valve I9 is slidably disposed in the block I4 and is yieldably held in its normal or closing position by a coil spring 29 interposed between the upper end of the needle valve anda screw 2| threaded into the block I4. The ejector I6 ts snugly within the chamber I5 with its rear end projecting from the block I4 when the ejector is in its normal position, as shown in full lines of Figure 1. The forward end of the ejector is provided with the cup washers 22 which are utilized for the purpose of rendering the chamber I air tight. The forward end of the ejector also carries a valve actuating element, generally indicated by the numeral 23. This element is preferably formed from a thin flat strip of resilient material, such as spring steel, and is bent at one end to provide a flange 24 by means of which the element is secured to the ejector by a screw 25. Adjacent the flange 24, the element 23 is provided with a horizontal portion 26 and from this portion 26 to the forward extremity of the actuator 23 the same is downwardly inclined to provide a cam portion 21. This portion 21 is bifurcated to form a longitudinal slot 28 of sufficient width to receive the portion of the needle valve IS located within the chamber I5. The slot 28 extends partially into the portion 25 of the actuator 23 and in the latter portion said slot terminates in an enlarged opening 29. The construction of the actuator 23, as described, is such that when the ejector I5 is moved inwardly or forwardly, to discharge a predetermined quantity of liquid from the chamber I5, the valve stem I9 will enter the forward end of the slot 28 and the upper surface of the cam portion will immediately contact a flange 33 formed on the needle valve. As the forward movement of the ejector progresses, said flange will ride upwardly upon the cam portion 21 with the result that the valve I9 will be lifted against the tension of its spring 20, thus raising said valve off of its seat and permitting the liquid to be forced through the valve casing I8 by the pressure of the ejector I5. As the ejector approaches the forward extremity of its movement the ange 30 will engage on top of the horizontal portion 26 of the actuator and immediately thereafter, that is when the ejector. has reached its discharge position, the flange 30 will enter the opening 29 in the actuator 23. There- Y upon, the spring 20 becomes effective to force the needle valve I9 downwardly, with the ange 3!) passing through the opening 23, and the needle valve will then be restored to its normal position to shut off further egress of the liquid from the chamber I5 before the ejector I E starts its return movement. With some liquid still remaining in the outlet I1, it will be obvious that when the valve I9 is again closed the admission of anyair upwardly into the chamber I5 will be prevented. Valve I9 being now in its closed position, the flange 30 thereof will be positioned belowthe actuator 23 and thus be in the path of movement of the cam portion 21 of said actuator as theejector returns to its normal position. However, due to the resiliency of the actuator 2 3, the latter will ride over the ange 30, as indicated in Figure 3, and the return movement of said ejector will therefore not be hindered. v This return movement of the ejector is utilized to create a vacuum in the forward end of the chamber I5 which will be suflicient to again ll the chamber I5 in front of the ejector with another predetermined amount of liquid by the suction created at the liquid inlet 3| located at the forward end of said chamber. A supply pipe 32 has its lower end communicating with the inlet 3| and extends diagonally upward alongside of the block I4 to a point where the upper end of said pipe extends A into said block and communicates with a nipple 33 therein to which is connected a supply re- 75 ceptacle or reservoir 34 from which the liquid is fed into said pipe.

The mechanism for actuating the ejector I6 will now be described. Said element is retained in its normal poistion and restored thereto under the influence of two coil springs 35 connected to opposite sides of the rear end of the ejector and also to a bracket 36 secured to the bottom of the casing I2. On a bracket 31 secured to the block I4, there is pivoted a lever 38 the lower end of which is operatively-joined to the rear end of the plunger by a link or pin 39. The upper end of the lever 38 is arranged in the path of a plunger 40 extending through a wall in the casing I2 and slidably mounted in the block I4. As the plunger 40 is pressed inwardly it contacts the upper end of the lever 33 and swings the same about its pivot so that a forward motion will be transmitted to the ejector I5 to force liquid from the chamber I5.V The inward movement of the plunger 40 is limited by contact of a pin 4I thereon with a block I4.

When the plunger 40 has been released, after being pressed inwardly to the limit of its movement, the springs 35 become effective to restore the ejector to normal and to reverse the movement of the lever 38 so that the plunger 40 will be forced outwardly to the position of Figure l.

A coin controlled mechanism is operatively associated with the plunger 48 for the purpose of preventing inward movement thereof until such time that a coin is deposited into the chute 42. Located at the lower end of this chute and adapted to be contacted by the coin is one end of a locking lever 43 pivoted to the block I4 at 44. The other end of said lever normally engages in a groove 45 formed in the plunger 40 so as to prevent inward movement thereof, The weight of the coin rocks the lever 43 to the dotted line position of Figure 2 until said lever contacts one arm 46 of a substantially U-shaped member 41 slidably mounted in the block I4, thus limiting the downward movement of said lever to a point where the coin will still be supported by said lever. However, as the plunger 40 is forced inwardly a flange 48 thereon comes into contact with the other arm 49 of said member 41 and forces the latter member rearwardly against the tension of a spring 50 until the free end of the arm 46 disengages from the lever 43, whereupon the coin will swing said lever down about its pivot until the coin is released from the chute. The lever`43 then restores toward its normal position until the end remote from the chute 42 rests upon the plunger, and when the latter has been fully restored to its normal position under the influence of the spring 35, said lever 43 will again engage in the groove 45 of the plunger and lock the same against operation until another coin is inserted into the chute.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8, 5I indicates a portion of a cabinet in the bottom of which is positioned the cylindrical discharge chamber 52 the outlet 53 of which is controlled by a vertically movable needle valve 54 normally held in its closed position relative to said outlet by the coil spring 55 at the upper end of said valve. Intermediate the ends of the chamber 52 the same is provided with an inlet 56 to which is connected one end of said feed pipe 51 the other end of which is joined to a liquid supply receptacle 58. Movable within the chamber 52 is the ejector 59 which has a normal position in said chamber wherein the lower end of the ejector is located slightly above the inlet 56. This ejector is moved `downwardly at the inception of a discharging operation, as will appear in the course of the description, to force a predetermined quantity of liquid from the chamber 52 and, at the same time, the valve 54 is raised to open the outlet 53 so as to permit egress of said liquid under the pressure of said ejector. The initial stage of thisoperation is shown in Figure 8 wherein the valve has been raised and the ejector is moving downwardly in the chamber 52. valve 54 is closed at theconclusion of the discharge operation of the ejector, as illustrated in Figure .'7.

For the purpose of operating` the needle valve and ejector, as above described, there is mounted in one wall of the casing 5| a shaft 60 having a handle 6| on its outer end and carrying anV oscillatory disk 62 at its inner end. In the normal position of `this disk, as shown in Figure 6, a lug 63 on the periphery thereof enga-ges an adjustable stop 64 carried by the casing 5| and the limit of movement of said disk, when operated, is controlled by a second adjustable stop 65, as shown in Figure '7. to the disk 62, as at 66, is a sectional end adjustable operating link 81 the lower end oi which is connected at 68 to a swinging arm 69 pivoted at 1|) to the casing 5|. Within this arm is disposed a sliding spring pressed trip 1| which, in its normal position, has its outer end projecting from the arm 69 and arranged, when the arm 69 swings upwardly, to contact an abutment 'l2 on the needle valve 54 so as to lift said needle valve from its seat against the tension of the spring 55. vThis action occurs as the handle 6| isturned in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 6 and, as the lug 63 contacts the stop 85 during which movement the arm 69 is swung upwardly, the trip 1| will disengage itself from the abutment 12 and the needle valve 54 is thereupon restored to its closed position under the inuence of the spring 55. At the same time that this operation is taking place, another link 13 pivoted to the disk 62 at a point diametrically opposite the pivot 36 is forced downwardlyby the turning movement of said disk. The lower end of said link 'i3 isV pivotally connected to a head 'I4 secured to the upper end of the ejector 59 whereby said ejector is forced downwardly in the chamber 52 against the tension of the spring l5 coiled about saidejector. When the handle 6| is released at the conclusionV of a discharge operation, said spring 'l5 operates to restore the ejector 59 to its normal', raised position and also returns the disk 92 to the position of Figure 6.

The coin controlled mechanism may be employed to lock the disk 62 in its normal position and is effective to release said disk for turning movement upon deposit of a coin in the chute 16. When this is done, said coin engages one end of a pivoted locking member the other end of which is normally engaged in a notch 18 formed inthe periphery of the disk 62. The weight of the coin rocks the lever 11 to disengage it from said notch and a stop 19 on the Also, in this operation, the

It will be noted with regard to the` latter position that when the valve 54 is closed `3 disk limits the downward swinging movement of the lever Tl to a point where the coin will be partially retained within the slot until the handle 6| is turned. When this occurs, the stop19 moves downwardly away` from the lever 'I1 and l Vpermits'the coin to drop into a receptacle 89.

Pivotally connected j Yan inlet 9|).

This action isillustrated in the full and dotted lines of Figure 7 and, upon release of the coin, the lever Vlmoves to the full line position in the latter figure so that its locking extremity will drop into the notch i8 upon the restoration of the disk E2 to its normal position under the influence of the spring 15. As the ejector 59 is restored to its normal position, a. vacuum is created in the chamber 52 and when the lower end of said ejector reaches the inlet 66 said vacuumbecomes effective to draw another supply of liquid from the reservoir 58 intor said chamber preparatory to a subsequent operation of the mechanism.

Reference is now made to the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 to 1l. Herein the apparatus comprises a casing 8| having a well 82 in the bottom thereof over which is horizontally disposed the discharge chamber 83 provided with an outlet 84 controlled by the vertically disposed needle valve 85 which is slidably mounted in the sleeve 86 extending upwardly from the chamber 83, and which is yieldably retained in its normal position under the influence of the spring 81 engaging an abutment 88 on said needle valve. 'Ihe chamber 83 is mounted in a bearing 89 supported on the bottom of the casing 8|, and said chamber is provided within said bearing with A feed pipe 9| has one end connected to said inlet and its other end to a liquid reservoir 92 whereby the liquid from the latter will ilow into the chamber. An ejector 93 is slidably mounted for reciprocation in the chamber 83 and, in its normaly position of Figure 9, the inner end of the ejector exposes the inlet 98 so that a predetermined quantity of liquid may enter the chamber. The opposite end of the ejector 93 terminates in a plunger 94 which extends through the wall of` the casing 8| so thatpressure may be exerted upon said plunger to move the ejector'to its discharge position against th-e tension of a spring 95 that is coiled about the ejector and interposed between a flange 96 at the adjacent end of the chamber 83 and a disk 97 at the inner end of the plunger 94.

Again, as in the previously described modications, the needle valve is raised at the inception of the inward movement of the ejector and when the latter reaches its discharge position, at which point a predetermined quantity of liquid has been forced through the outlet 84,

said needle valve is restored to its closed position. To accomplish this-result, use is made of a bell-crank lever 98 pivoted at 99 to a wall of the casing 8| andv having the lower extremity of itsA arm |99 in contact 'with the disk 9'! on the plunger 94 so that as said plunger is forced inwardly the lever 98 will be swung to the position of Figure 10 against the tension of a spring connecting the other arm |82 of said lever with the bearing 89. The free extremity of the other arm |92 is recessed to receive a springpressed trip |03 similar to the trip As the lever 98 starts its swinging Vmovement under the influence of the plunger 94, said trip |83 engages the lower end of the abutment 89 and continued movement of said lever thus lifts the valve 85 from its seat. At the end oi the discharge stroke of the ejector 93 the trip |03 disengages from the abutment 8B andthe spring 8l then restores the needle valve 85 to its normal closed position. After the discharge of the predetermined quantity of liquid through the outlet 84 and subsequent release of pressure against the plunger' 94 the spring 95 restores the ejector to its normal position and as soon as the inner end of the ejector reaches the inlet 90, during this movement, the vacuum created within the chamber 83 acts` toV draw another charge of liquid from the reservoir 92 into the chamber 83. The return of the ejector to its normal position permits the spring IUI to also restore the lever 98 to its normal position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber lhaving an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector movable in said chamber to a discharge position therein to force liquid therefrom and through said outlet, a valve opening element on said ejector operable, upon movement of the latter toward said discharge position, to engage and open said valve, said valve opening element being provided with means to eIease said valve for restoration to closed position when-said ejector reaches said discharge position, and means to thereupon close said valve.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet and having a stem provided with a cam engaging portion, an ejector movable in said chamber to a discharge position therein to force liquid therefrom and through said outlet, a cam extending from said ejector and being formed with a slot therein for receiving the stem of said valve, and being further formed with an opening at the inner end of said slot, said cam engaging said portion of said valve stem to open said valve at the inception of the movement of said ejector toward its discharge position, and said stem portion entering said opening at the conclusion of said movement to release said valve for restoration to its closed position, and means to thereupon close said valve. v

3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet and having a stem provided with a cam engaging portion, an ejector mounted for reciprocation in said chamber and having normal and discharge positions, a cam extending from said ejector and being provided With a slot therein for receiving the stem of said valve, and being further provided With an opening at the inner end of said slot, said cam engaging said portion of said valve stem to open said valve at the inception'of the movement of said ejector toward its discharge position, and said stem portion entering said opening at ythe conclusion of -said Vmovement to release said valve for restoration to its closed position, means to thereupon close said valve, and means to return said ejector to its normal position after said valve is closed.

4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector movable in said charnber to a discharge position therein to force liquid therefrom and through said outlet, pivoted means movable into engagement with a portion of said valve to open the same upon inception of the movement of said ejector toward its discharge position and disengaging from said valve portion at the termination of said movement to release the valve for restoration to closed position, and means to so restore said valve upon said disengagement.

5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector mounted for reciprocation in said chamber and having normal and discharge positions, a pivotally mounted valve actuating member movable into engagement With a portion oi said valve to adjust the same to open position upon inception of the movement of said ejector from its normal position, said actuating member disengaging from said valve portion as said ejector reaches its discharge position, means to thereupon close said valve, and means to thereafter restore said ejector to its normal position.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector mounted for reciprocation in said chamber and having normal and discharge positions, a pivotally mounted valve actuating member operated by contact with said ejector, when the latter is moved from its normal position, to engage a portion of said valve and move the same to open position, said member thereafter disengaging from said valve portion, when the discharge position of said ejector is reached, to release said valve for restoration to its closed position, means to thereupon close said valve, and means thereafter operable to return said ejector to its normal position.

7. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet intermediate its ends and an inlet at one end thereof, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector movable back and forth in said chamber from a normal position at the opposite end thereof from said inlet to a discharge position short of said inlet, means to open said valve upon movement of said ejector from its normal position and to maintain said valve open until said discharge position is i reached, and means to close said valve prior to any return movement of said ejector from said discharge position toward said normal position.

8. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector movable back. and forth in said chamber from normal to discharge positions therein, means to open said valve upon movement of said ejector toward said discharge position and to retain said valve open until said ejector reaches the extremity of its discharge movement, and means to close said valve immediately upon termination of said discharge movement and before said ejector starts its return movement to normal position.

9. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a liquid chamber having an outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, an ejector movable in said chamber to a discharge position therein to force liquid therefrom and through said outlet, an actuator for said valve for opening the same at the inception of the movement of said ejector toward its discharge position, means to release said valve from its open position at the conclusion of said discharge movement, and means to move said valve to a completely closed position after its release and prior to any further movement of said ejector.

PE'I'ER LOI-IN. 

